The End Is Near

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Survival Skills #37 How to Make an solar-powered Oven

You can easily make an oven from a few simple supplies, which you may already have around the house. This oven is solar-powered, so it can save on energy costs. A solar oven will come in handy for camping or for hot summer days when you want to bake without heating up the kitchen. What's more, almost anything that you bake in a conventional oven can be baked in this homemade solar oven.

Step 1Find two cardboard boxes of different sizes. The larger box should be at least ½ inch wider than the smaller box on all sides. The smaller box needs to be at least 15 inches by 15 inches. Glue aluminum foil to the inside of each box.Step 2 Lay several layers of newspaper in the bottom of the larger box. Cut off the top flaps or fold them down inside the boxes. Place the smaller box inside the larger box and stuff crumpled newspaper between the two boxes to serve as insulation.Step 3Make a solar reflector. Cut a piece of cardboard two inches wider than the top side of the larger box. Cover the reflector with aluminum foil, gluing it on in smooth strips to cover the cardboard completely. Use several thicknesses of tape as a hinge to attach the reflector to one side of the outer box.Step 4Paint the outside of the box oven with a nontoxic glossy black paint to help it absorb heat. Cover the bottom of the inner box with black construction paper.Step 5Use dark-colored, non-reflective baking dishes to bake your food in the oven. You can make biscuits, cookies, cakes, breads, or anything else you can think of in this oven. You can even place a pot of stew or a casserole to cook in the oven. Place the baking dish￼ in the center of the inner box. Depending on the amount of sunlight in the area, foods can take two to three times longer to cook than when using a conventional oven, so start early in the day.Step 6Place the oven in full sun and position the reflector so the sun is shining directly on it. Check every few hours to be sure the reflector remains facing the sun.Step 7Spread plastic wrap over the top of the box and tape it down securely, leaving it in place until the food is done.

1 comment:

I tried this last year when Hurricane Ike ripped through the Ohio Valley (freakin' Ohio weather!)...it worked so-so. It would be okay for warming some canned soup, but that's about all I could recommend it for. Of course in your neck of the woods with warmer days and stronger sun, it might be a whole 'nother story.